Improvement in skirt-wire



N- PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGZTON, D (IV UNTTED STATES .PATENT '@EErcE.

THEoDoEE D. DAY, oF NEW YORK, N. Y.

'y IMPROVEMENT-IN SKIRT-WIRE.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 52,692. dated February 20, 1866.

To all whom it may concern: of skirt-wire covered in the manner which I Be it known that I, THEODORE D. DAY, most prefer.

of the city and State of New York, have in- In Fig. lthe winding of wire is spirally,and

vented and made a certain new and useful Imit is braided in with the cotton. I have shown provement in Skirt-Wire and I do hereby delive such wires, occupying the place of ve of clare the following to be a full, clear, and exthebraiding-cords usuallyemployed,andIhere act description of the said invention, referremark that all that is necessary to manufacence being had to the annexed drawings, makture this skirt-wire is to introduce a spool or ing part of this specification, wherein I have spools of wire in place of the spools of cotton represented my improved skirt-wire in ve views that are enlarged in size, the more clearly to represent the braiding and show the different modes in which my improvement may be carried out.

In hoop or skeleton skirts for ladies the bottom hoop, or three or four of the bottom hoops, are very liable to wear in consequence of being exposed to abrasion in walking and also in coming down stairs. The consequence is that the covering of cotton or other iibrous material on the lower hoops cuts through on the edge of the steel spring or hoop and becomes unsightly, rough, and often comes off the spring or wire in places, leaving the same exposed and spoiling the skirt, particularly at the place most likely to be observed, whilethe upper portion of the skirt is not injured.

To overcome the difficulty before named a covering of 'wire has been employed for such skirt wires or hoops, the same being put on in a continuous spiral, the same as a piano-forte wire, and also has been braided upon the steel spring. In both these instances the cotton covering was entirely dispensed with. This metallic covering is objectionable, because it adds'considerable weight to the skirt-wire, and gives the same a metallic luster that is objectionable as an article of ladies wearing-apparel.

'Ihe nature ofl my said invention consists in a Winding of line wire combined with the cotton or other fibrous covering usually employed over the steel spring forming the skirt-wire, which winding of fine wire takes the wear and prevents the cotton covering cutting through or wearing out as fast as heretofore, and retains the same so firmly that said covering cannot become detached from the skirt-spring,

in the ordinary braiding-machines.

In this Fig. l the other braiding-strands are represented as of cotton.

In Fig. 2 I have shown all the braidingstrands running in one direction as of wire, and those running in another direction of cotton.

In Fig. 3 there arefour braiding-wires shown interlaced with each other and with the cotton covering, two of the4 wires running in each direction.

In Fig. 4t the wires are interlaced with each other, the same as in Fig. 3; but this is done after the cotton-braidin g has been put on, and becomes a protection for the same, the cotton covering the skirt-springl and the open braiding of wire only protecting the cotton from wear. p

In Fig. 5 the cotton covering is shown as braided upon the skirt-spring as usual, and outside the same is a spiral winding of line wire running in one direction.

The styles of compound covering of cotton and Wire shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are not so acceptable in appearance as those shown in Figs. l and 2, and are introduced to show the various modes in which my improvement may be employed.

It will be evident that this covering for skirtwire may be employed when one, two, or more wires compose the spring or hoop and braided or united together in any usual or desired manner.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isv Skirt wire or springs wrapped with a compound covering composed of line wire and strands of cotton or similar fibrous material, 

